Close-chet

Babs and I spent some quality time together this weekend. I finished the squares for sections 7 and 8 and then tried a different method for seaming them all together.


I'm quite pleased with it - even in its un-blocked, un-pulled, un-tugged, un-tucked state. It's simple too - hold the pieces wrong sides together, single crochet through both pieces, chain two, single crochet repeat!

Side-by-side comparison of the other seaming method. You decide.

Along with the quality time with Babs, came quality time with someone else. Maybe because it was just freezing cold here all weekend, or maybe it was because she was bored, but wherever Babs and I went, Kathryn went. And wherever I sat, Kathryn sat; not just next to me, but that place that's just short of being back in your womb. Lots of questions, comments, general chatter. Normally this is my time and I was biting my tongue wondering where Jon was and why she wasn't interested in what HE was doing! By yesterday afternoon the closeness got to me. "Would you like to learn?"


I sent her on what I assumed would be a wild goose chase. "Go down to the studio, in one of the plastic drawers and find an "H" crochet hook." Back in 10 seconds! We started with a simple chain. Over and over again. Rip it out and do it again until you get it.


Once the chain was perfected, it was on to single crochet, turning chains, then double crochet and then . . .
I've taught grown-up students who can't get this far in two weeks. It's not like she moved any farther away from me while we worked on this, in fact, she had to move closer at some points. But at least it was on my terms!

Babette and Beyond

Tigger heard that our current blistering heat wave might break today so he grabbed "Babette in Progress" to be ready.

She's such a lovely project and I'm really happy with it. The Nashua Creative Focus Cotton DK, although a little "splitty" is soft, not to heavy, and I love the colors. I'm making this for Kathryn (sorry Tigger!) so having her hang on my shoulders while I'm working on it is an extra nice bonus. I didn't get as much done on the car trip as I'd have liked to - something different about crocheting in the car versus knitting in the car I guess. So I'm happily working along on Babette ... until I get this in my email:

The "Modern Quilt Wrap" by Mags Kandis from Folk Style. Thanks knittingdaily.com because I was doing just fine without knowing about this. So like any good knitter I just downloaded the pattern and printed it out. That's all. Just to look at it. And then I ordered yarn for it but that will just sit in the box until Babette is finished. I'm sure of it.

Is it just me or does that model look a bit like Carole's lovely daughter Hannah?

A Long, and Much Needed, Long Weekend

It's been a pretty crappy week here. The headaches, the thing with the car, and now the job thing. Yea - the job thing. Jon's company was bought-out a while ago and the deal closed this this morning. Jon will not be working for the new organization. This is not an un-planned for situation. There are plans and contingencies for these types of events in the lives of grown-ups.

For instance, since the weather is supposed to be gorgeous this weekend, I plan to spend it on the porch with Babette: Or perhaps my Baby Cable socks knit in Koigu or reading one of the two books I have in progress right now.Or playing "Stare Down" with Tigger who is guarding Babette because he still believes that it will be his blanket when it is all done.

Jon plans to mow the lawn and go the Minnesota State Fair with Kathryn and her friend. And that's just Saturday.

There are big plans, which can not be revealed yet, that will set all things right. One of the many changes mentioned earlier this week. A good one, a very good one for all of us, especially my best guy ever.

To Jon: I know this is a really tough day, you did great work there. Be proud of what you have done. Remember what your co-workers and peers have been telling you. And then, turn off the light but don't shut the door. I am proud of you and I love you. Oh, the places you'll go.....

Rain, Rain ...

... you can stay ...

... if I can work on Babette every day.

Sections 1, 2 and 3 are all done and the ends are all woven in. I spent some time reading other blogs on Babette this weekend. Many of them tell the same story of getting a false sense of how quickly this project will go after finishing sections 1, 2, 3, and 4. I think in order to avoid that I'll pick a few bigger sections to work on during the upcoming road trip. Side note on that - imagine Jon's surprise when he realized that Rapid City, SD was more than a 5 hour drive from Minneapolis (like say double).

Rain, rain go away! Our friends in southeastern Minnesota are not safe today.

It's Good to Be Alone

One of us is moping around because her cousins left town after a twelve day visit. One of use is thankful for the return of her personal space. Although everything went better than any one's expectations with all the family celebrations, it's still nice to have some quiet before the school year starts and life begins again. My parent's 50th anniversary gala was wonderful; the pre-party at our house the night before, despite the rain and 45 people in my house was great fun; the pre-pre-party on Lake Minnetonka the night before that was probably the most fun. Great weather, food, beverages, company etc. But that's over and it's time to talk about new projects. I've been reading about her for a while and knew I would fall sooner or later. I also knew I couldn't spare the money to make it out the Koigu KPM so I'm subbing out one of my favorite light-weight cotton yarns, Nashua Creative Focus Cotton DK. This should make the blanket a bit bigger and keeps me from having to crochet with wool - which I really don't like to do at all.

Without further ado, I bring you, Babette, from the Spring 2006 Interweave Crochet.

As you can see, she's still in the planning stages. I have three more colors on order to round out the 17-color palate but I can start now with the colors I have. I'll be following the advice of Ann who followed the schematic and seams the sections as she goes along. I have one square already done and I love it already. Should be great fun for the car trip to the far end of the earth that was just announced last week. Yea - we're headed to Mt. Rushmore next week. With the dog.

"My chair, my yarn, my blanket - if and when you ever finish it!"